BILL REQ. #:  S-3611.1 

Read first time 01/14/2004.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to notice of privacy policies for insurance; and amending RCW 48.43.505.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 48.43.505 and 2000 c 5 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Health carriers and insurers shall adopt policies and procedures that conform administrative, business, and operational practices to protect an enrollee's right to privacy or right to confidential health care services granted under state or federal laws.
     (2) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this section after considering relevant standards adopted by national managed care accreditation organizations and the national association of insurance commissioners, and after considering the effect of those standards on the ability of carriers to undertake enrollee care management and disease management programs.
     (3) Rules adopted by the commissioner may require that a carrier or insurer provide an enrollee with notice of its privacy policies and practices only upon enrollment, within sixty days of any material change to the policy, or upon request of the enrollee.